House Hunters International

In many markets, "House Hunters" TV series are a few clicks beyond the reach of basic cable, airing on HGTV. For happy subscribers, though, "House Hunters" follows individuals and couples in hot pursuit of new homes under the skilled professional guidance of a realtor. Watching people compare, contrast, and ultimately choose among three competitively priced properties, viewers learn how to assess the value of an existing home, and how to close the deal on a desirable property. At the end of each episode, "new" owners take viewers on a tour of their house, showing changes and improvements they have made since moving and getting comfortable. "House Hunters" airs nightly, and episodes repeat at various times throughout the week. In recent years, the producers have yielded to viewers' pressure, showing purchase prices and locations. They often devote entire weeks to major markets, showing an array of neighborhoods and home styles.

Think of it as "home make-over, modest edition": "Deserving Design" shares "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's" dedication to helping inspirational families, but it works on the scale of HGTV''s cable network resources. What "EM:HE" does with huge infusions of money, "Deserving Design" accomplishes with massive infusions of talent and compassion. Instead of tearing down and completely rebuilding split-level traditional modern villas for people in dire need, "Deserving Design" redoes a couple of rooms for families whose courage and good works inspire others. Vern Yip, emerging designer to the stars, puts his vision and skill to work as a worthy family collaborates with him to remodel one room, and then he goes solo as he transforms a second room, totally surprising the unsuspecting, usually overwhelmed family. The surprise remodel usually includes one especially valuable and meaningful gift for the family. Yip says he wants "Deserving Design" to entertain and inspire, and his natural empathy and warm sense of humor naturally complement his design skills, assuring families and fans both style and tears in every episode.

To understand and appreciate "Color Splash," viewers need a little prior viewing experience with HGTV. Specifically, they need conversational knowledge of "HGTV Design Star," the network's "reality competition," which promises the winner his or her own show. Making good on that promise, HGTV hooked-up champion David Bromstad with everything he needed for his break-out show "Color Splash." Like HGTV headliners Vern Yin, Genevieve Gorder, and Candice Olsen, Bromstad demonstrates how charisma influences quality design, inspiring critics to use the word "vibrant" in descriptions of both the host and his rooms. Bromstad's aesthetic develops from one frighteningly simple principle: "Color is the root of great design." In the midst of economic recession, color probably doubles as the least expensive way to bring about an extreme home makeover. Working with ordinary if somewhat design-challenged homeowners, Bromstad "transforms tired rooms into vibrant, unforgettable spaces." Carpenter extraordinaire Danielle Hirsh co-hosts "Color Splash," complementing Bromstad's skill-set and adding the essential woman's touch to his concepts. Together, Bromstad and Hirsch show hapless homeowners how to draw all the drama and dazzle from carefully chosen tints and hues.

Yard Crashers TV show follows intriguing landscape transformations. You never know what you're gonna bring home from the home improvement store -- maybe some new patio chairs or a bag of cement -- or it could be professional landscaper Ahmed Hassan. It's like winning the landscape lottery: Ahmed waits at stores looking for the perfect weekend warriors who could use his help. People go in thinking they're just buying a bag of mulch, but instead come home with Ahmed and his team, who completely transform their landscape. It's ambush landscaping at its best!